Saturday, August 29, 2020

Repentance in Real Time

Today is the day on which Catholics remember the Passion of John the Baptist. John’s mission was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah by prophetically calling for repentance - a change of mind, heart, and lifestyle based on the coming of a new reality. For John, the new reality was the imminent arrival of Messiah. It is interesting, and informative for those of us who seek the Kingdom, to listen in on his conversations framing repentance in response to three representative inquiries. Luke 3:10-14 records the results of the Q & A which followed his preaching.

 

The crowd wanted to know what repentance looked like for them - John responds with characteristic bluntness. “If you have two coats, give one to the person who has none - and do the same with the food that you have.” Repentance - preparing the way of Messiah - seeking the Kingdom of God and partnering in its coming - looks like sharing with those who do not have what you have. The conditions which produced the disparity are not John’s concern here - he won’t let us hide behind the protective cover of the other’s supposed laziness, or character defaults, or justified economic inequity. It is enough that I have, and that he does not. Perhaps we can talk after we have leveled the playing field - but, given the soon arrival of Messiah, I don’t want to be caught with a closet full of extra while another waits without enough. Notice, this is not about generosity - this is about wisdom! When Messiah comes, the paradigm shifts - values are upended. You don’t want to find yourself wealthy in things that are no longer valuable - especially when you can use those presently valued things now to provide real wealth in the age that is certainly coming!

 

Not deterred by this challenging response, a tax collector presses in with the same query. John’s answer does not include taking up a different profession, but about doing the job but informed by repentance. “Collect no more than what you have been authorized to.” The system of tax collection was built for corruption – the amount authorized included a small percentage for the agent, but the system provided protection for that agent should he decide to add a surcharge to cover additional personal expenses. The result was that tax collectors were doubly loathed – for collaborating with the occupying force and for padding their pockets under cover of authority. To prepare for Messiah, John challenges them to collect only what they are entitled to. He is not concerned with their government work – perhaps his vision of the age of the messiah will require experienced, honest, and honorable tax collectors. Regardless, it is informative for those who now, at the end of time, seek the Kingdom. Do your job well, and don’t use your authority to take advantage.

 

Next up to the mic with their question were men in camo – soldiers whose hearts have been stirred by this guerilla prophet. Perhaps they recognize in him a kindred spirit – a warrior for a cause greater than himself. They respect him – and take him seriously. Their question is not asked out of idle curiosity – if a new order is on the way, if a new king is coming, how ought they prepare for his arrival? Again, it is interesting that John doesn’t tell them to resign their commissions or to take up another line of work. Serving in the military can be an honorable profession. But, like everything else associated with power, it can be more than tempting to abuse authority – especially when in such a hostile, hate filled environment where they are viewed as enemies. John responds, “Don’t take money from anyone by force, don’t file false charges – be content with your wages.” John is of the opinion that they can repent – they can prepare for the coming of Messiah – by treating those over whom they have authority with dignity and by acting honorably and without greed.

 

The parallels are not exact, but these three case studies give us a window into the practical nature of repentance – it is not about feeling bad for long enough until we can feel ok about feeling ok again. It is to change attitudes and behaviors in response to the awareness of a dawning reality. In our case, it is a primary way to prepare for and seek the Kingdom. In each case, it is about justice – especially exercised by those with power or authority or position or privilege. Those things are not to be leveraged for personal gain at the expense of others – rather, they are to be used for the good of those who aren’t similarly advantaged. The last speaks, perhaps, to those in law enforcement who are seeking the Kingdom. Even though they ought not, other officers may perhaps abuse their authority – driven by fear, they may hide behind the badge in their harsh treatment of those they are called to protect and serve. But Kingdom seekers uniformed in blue may not – they are called to prepare the way for the King by modeling what law enforcement, the exercise of appropriate authority, in the Kingdom might look like.

                                                                                                          

Today, remembering John, I am challenged to consider what repentance looks like for me. I want it to be true of me as it was of him – I want to decrease that Jesus may increase.

 

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